JACKSONVILLE, FL — A First Coast High School junior was hit by a car Thursday morning while walking to school near Duval Station Road, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and News4JAX reporting.
Officials confirmed two crashes were reported in the area that morning. The student, an 11th-grade girl, was taken to a hospital and is expected to be OK.
The collision happened a little after 7 a.m., as students were crossing with help from the flashing pedestrian light system. A viewer who saw the aftermath told News4JAX the teen was sitting up after the crash.
Jacksonville sheriff confirms two crashes near the school
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said both crashes were reported Thursday morning on Duval Station Road near First Coast High School. One of them involved the student who was walking to campus when she was struck by a vehicle.
While the agency did not give a detailed breakdown of both crashes, the timing raised immediate concern because they happened during the morning arrival window for students. The road is a busy route near the school, and traffic was already drawing attention after the incident.
The fact that two crashes were reported in the same area the same morning added to concerns from people who live and work nearby. It also put a spotlight on how drivers behave when students are crossing near the campus entrance.
Teen was crossing with pedestrian flashing lights
The girl was walking to school when she was hit, and the crossing took place at a location where flashing lights are used to help pedestrians move safely across the road. That detail became central to concerns voiced afterward by a witness.
The viewer who spoke with News4JAX said she had seen the teen sitting up after the crash, which suggested the student was conscious shortly after being struck. The witness did not describe the driver or provide details about how the vehicle hit the student.
The crash happened shortly after 7 a.m., a time when many students are on foot or being dropped off. That made the crossing area especially active, with vehicles and pedestrians sharing the road at the same time.
Witness describes impatient driving around students
After the crash, a viewer told News4JAX she was worried about aggressive driving in the area, especially when students are trying to cross. She said drivers often pull up close to children and seem impatient near the school crossing.
“Every day when I pick up my niece and nephew, cars get impatient and will pull right up on the kids walking. Drives me crazy,” she said.
Her comments reflected broader frustration among people near the school who believe the crossing zone deserves more caution from drivers. The witness linked the concern directly to the flashing pedestrian setup used by students, saying it still does not prevent some cars from moving too quickly or crowding the crossing.
Hospital visit ends with expectation the student will recover
The student was taken to a hospital after the crash, but officials said she is expected to be OK. No additional information was released about the extent of her injuries.
That update offered some reassurance after a frightening morning for the student, her family and others who were nearby. The early report that she was sitting up after the crash also suggested the situation, while serious, was not believed to be life-threatening.
Even with the positive outlook, the incident underscored how quickly a routine school commute can turn dangerous. For parents, students and neighbors, the focus shifted to whether drivers in the area are giving enough space to pedestrians.
Safety worries continue around Duval Station Road crossings
The crash is likely to renew attention on pedestrian safety near First Coast High School, where students cross Duval Station Road during the morning rush. The witness account suggested many people already see the area as a place where drivers need to slow down and pay closer attention.
Authorities did not announce any changes to traffic control or school crossing procedures in connection with Thursday’s crashes. For now, the main confirmed facts are that two wrecks were reported, one student was injured, and she is expected to recover.
As the school day began, the incident served as a reminder that even with flashing pedestrian warnings, safety depends on drivers recognizing that students are on foot and may be crossing in groups. Nearby residents say that remains a daily concern.
